Tire-tread for vehicles.



W. J. HOWARD.

TIRE TBEAD FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

truck wherein two resilient tires 1 and mounted on a rim 3 which 1s provided w th WILLIAM J'. HOWARD, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TIRE- BREAD FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed February 24, 1915.

T all 107mm may concern Be it known that I, IV ILLIAM J. HQWARD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King, State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire-lreads for ehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable pthers skilled the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a tire tread for vehicles.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a device which may be readily attached to a vehicle wheel to cause the 'wheel to grip the ground to lift the vehicle from a rut or muddy portion of a road A further objectof the invention resides in so constructing the device that it will bridge the tire and be supported by the rim so that it will be rigid with relation to the rim. b I

A still further object of the mvent on resides in so constructing the device that it will be positively maintained on the wheel by means engaging the rim and so that supplemental locking means are provided.

with these and other ObJQCtS in view, such as will appear as the descriptionprogresses, mv invention comprises the comb nation and arrangement of parts as set forth in and failing within the scope of the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing: Figure l is a side elevation of one of my devices, showmg the same in place upon a truck wheel, only portion of the wheel being shown. big. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig 3 IS a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the clamping means for the tread plate. Fig. is a fragmental detail. showing the manner in which the strap may be detached from the latches. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification of my device. Fig. 6 is a perspective of another modification of, my device.

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views:

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I have illustrated a wheel such as used on a h2eavy are Specification of Letters Patent.

a rib extending; between the tires 1 and The form of my device shown in Figs. 1 to form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the

Serial No. 10,342.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

4, inclusive, includes a tread plate 5 which is formed so that it will conform to the con tour of the tires 1 and 2 and has a tongue '6 extending down between the tires and resting upon the rib 40f the rim 3. The outer edges of this tread, plate 5 are likewise formed into tongues 7 which rest upon the upturned edges of the rim 3. Thi tread plate 5 is provided with a transversely extending rib 8,

the forward and rear faces of" which are concaved as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In order that this tread plate may be maintained on the rim'3, I

These latches are provid m ends which are adapted to extend around the edges of the rim 3 and to engage the inner face of the said run. The outer order that the latches may'be prevented from accidentally disengaging the rim, I have provided them with holes 12 through which pins 13 extend and from which they are removable. A strap lat is secured to the pin 13 at one side of the tread plate and is adapted to extend around the rim and to be secured to the pin 13 on the other side of the plate. This latter pin 13 extends through a loop 15 inthe end of the strap. The strap is made in sections, secured to-' gether by a buckle 16, so that the length thereof may be varied. l/Vhen the'device is in place upon a wheel, as shown in the drawing, the strap 14 will maintain the latches 9 in engagement with the rim and these latches will maintain the tread plate in position bridging the tire and. so that the tongues 6 and 7 will. bear against the rim 3.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5, I have shown a construction which is used on alight truck wheel where but a single tire is -moui1ted on the rim. In this embodiment there is shown an arched tread plate 17 having a transversely extendingrib 18, the faces of which are concaved. This plate is provided with tongues 19 which rest upon the outer edges of the rim. Latch members 20' are provided which are pivoted to the tongues 19 in a manner similar 'to' that in which the latch members 9, of the I arepivoted to tongue of the tread plate. 1 These latch plate will thus be maintained upon the wheel by these latches. In ..1

1' about the rim.

members 20 are maintained on the rim by a strap 21 snmlar to the strap ll and secured to the latch meml-ers in a similar manner.

of the pin from the latching members and the device thus removed. This will obviate the necessity for unbuckling the sections of the strap each time the device isto be placed upon a wheel, the buckle being provided merely for adjusting the strap to a particular wheel. Thus when it is desired to place the device upon a wheel to lift the vehicle out of a rut, for instance, the tread plate is placed upon the wheel and the strap passed The pin is then passed through the loop in the end of the strap and through the latching members.

In the embodiment of the device shown in. Fig. (3 the tread plate may be removed by the milmclcliiroof the straps.

From the foregoing description it willbo seen that I have provided a device wiich will be readil attachable to a vehicle wheel nit/ems and by means of which the vehicle Wheel may be lifted out of a rut.

I have so constructed the device that it will rest upon the rim of the wheel and thus the rib will. be positively pushed into the ound because oi. the rigid relationship between the wheel and the device, and furthermore the pressure will be taken oil of the tire.

lvhile ha illustrated and described a partiei'ilar embodiment of my invention I have merely done so for the sake of convenience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction thereoi without in any wa departing" from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claim.

in a tire tread. a. plate adapted to bridge a the hook-shaped latching members se cured to the opposite sides of said plate and arranged in pairs. pins extending between and detachably engaged with the members of said pairs, a strap extending between the pairs on the opposite sides of the plate and detachablv engaged with said pins, and means for varying the length of said strap.

in testimony whereof. I aiiiX my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAIJ J. HOWARD. Witnesses Join Doorman, Rom. G. HABERKORN. 

